Boot-strap.



Patented luly 4, |899h DE WITT C. SEE.

BOOT STRAP.

(Application filed Apr. 15, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

DE VVIT'I C. SEE, OF MECHANICSVILLE, NEW. YORK.

BOOT-STRAP.

SPCIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,164, dated J' uly 4, 1899. Application filedfApril 15, 1898. Serial No. 677,744. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it nul/y concern:

Be it known that I, DE IVITT C. SEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mechanicsville, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Straps; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to improvements in straps more especially adapted for boots or shoes.

The object of the inventionvis to provide a strap which will be concealed within the article to which it is applied when not in use and yet permit of its extension, for convenience, when used, after which it will be drawn back to its normal position and concealed within said article.

The usual type of boot or shoe strap consists of a piece of non-extensible fabric having one portion united to the boot or shoe and the free portion or loop hang out or extend above the uppers. The objection to this form of strap is that it often catches into the garment, is in the way, and presents an unsightly appearance, especially when used on athletic or bicycle shoes.

My invention consists of a strap attached at a suitable point within a boot or shoe and elastic connections whereby said strap is permitted to be extended beyond the upper or top of the shoe when it is under strain or tension and when the tension is released is adapted to be retracted and concealed'within the shoe; and the invention further consists in the detailed construction of parts,which will be fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, I have illustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention,

, in which- Figure l is a fragmentary View showing the normal position of the strap when applied to boots or shoes.

Fig. 2 is a similar View with Like numerals indicate like and corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings, referring to which- In Fig. l I have shown the strap l partially concealed within a pocket 2, formed within the boot or shoe upper 3. The lower end of the strap is fastened within its pocket in any suitable manner, preferably by sewing, as indicated at 4. The pocket 2 may be formed by providing an incision, as at 5, between the lining 6 and shoe-upper 3, or may be con-I structed of a separate protecting strip of leather or other suitable material fastened smoothly within the shoe, the strap l to be inserted between the lining and protective strip. As will be noticed, this strip is fastened smoothly within the shoe to protect the foot and ankle. This pocket serves to protect the foot from coming in contact with the strap and cause sore or callous places and also to guard or prevent the strap from being torn from the shoe when the foot is inserted. This pocket also serves as a guide for the strap when in use and causes it to lie in a substantially vertical plane against the upper of the shoe when the tension is released therefrom, so that it is not liable to be caught between the ankle and shoe-upper,frequen tly to the discomfort of the wearer. surface of the upper over the strip is preferably made loose or full, as at 7, Fig. 2a, to provide space for housing or storing the strap and elastic retracting means without materially changing the contour of the Wall or shoe.

The strap l preferably consists of one piece of fabric doubled upon itself to form the loop 8. In Fig. 3 I, have shown the strap of one piece and as doubled upon itself suiiciently to be withdrawn a suitable distance from its position of concealment within the shoe in order to be readily used, which would not be the case if the loop were retained within the shoe, as the ankle comes in close contact with the shoe. This strap l is fastened at 9 to form the loop 8, the lower or single end of which, l0, is sewed or otherwise fastened to the shoe or pocket. At the point where the single end 10 is fastened to the shoe I attach one end of an elastic strip 1l, the other end of which is preferably attached at the point 9, where the strap is doubled upon itself, so

The outer ICQ that said strap l may be constructed and provided with the strip ll at one operation. This elastic strip Il is considerably shorter than the strap between the points 9 and l0 and the surplus folds upon itself, as at 12.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a strap 13, composed of elastic ribbon or tape which is doubled upon itself its entire length, forming the finger-loop 14, and is fastened to the shoe similar to the strip l at the point l0. In this construction I dispense with the loose back and the necessity of folding the strap, as elastic tape can be secured which is of suflicient strength to resist the strain or tension liable to be brought upon the same, thus combining the features of the strap l and the strip 11. The pocket for this strap is similar to the one heretofore described, with the exception that it does not require a loose back portion, as there are no folds in this form of strap.

In Fig. 5 I have shown the strap l doubled upon itself or composed of two pieces 15 15, having the usual fingenloop S and adapted to be fastened at its lower end to the shoe, as at 10. At a suitable point between the two strips 15 I insert the elastic strip 16, preferably of rubber or elastic tape, the ends of which are fastened to the strap, as at 17. This strip 16 is of such length as to provide sufficient slack in the strap l5 between its points of fastening to the strap, and this surplus of material is taken up by suitable folds 18. The effect of withdrawing the strap to a position folds the surplus material smoothly within the pocket between the ankle and shoe, as indicated at 13. This strap is strengthened by folding upon itself throughout its length, as shown;

It will be readily seen that by the use of the straps illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 the folds will permit them to be stretched until the surplus material is taken up, when it will make a rigid strap, such as is now commonly in use, and when the tension is released the elastic strips will draw the straps back into the shoe, concealing the loops from view.

This strap is also applicable to trays in trunks and other articles having straps of a similar character which are liable to become caught or torn by unduly protruding from the article to which they are attached.

I am aware that changes and alterations in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction of the devices herein shown and described as the preferred embodiment of my invention may be made by a skilled mechanic Without departing from the spirit or sacricing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. As a new article of manufacture, a strap secured within a shoe or other article and normally concealed therein, and means for limiting the extension of the strap and to retract it when released, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, astrap com posed of non-elastic material, fastened at its lower end to the shoe or lining thereof, said strap being normally concealed from view, an elastic strip attached at suitable points to the strap to insure return of said strap within the shoe, and a finger-loop, substantially as described.

As a new article of manufacture, astrap composed of non-elastic material, folded upon itself to form the linger-loop, said strap attached at its lower end to the shoe, and an elastic strip secured at one end to the fingerloop and at the other to the strap'and shoe, the lengt-h of the elastic strip between its points of connection being normally shorter than that of the strap, substantially as described.

4. A boot, shoe, or similar article, havinga pocket formed therein, a transverse incision in said pocket, in combination with a strap having a finger-loop adapted to pass through said transverse incision, an elastic strip sccured to the finger-loop at one end and atits other end to the strap, at a point greater than its own length, and means for fastening the strap, elastic strip and pocket to the shoe,sub stantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DE WITT C. SEE.

Witnesses:

J. C. REYNOLDS, WM. J. STONE. 

